Traveling bag comprising hingedly connected opposed sections



Jufiy 6, 1948. KAUFMANN 2,444,511

TRAVELING BAG COMPRISING HINGEDLY CONNECTED OPPOSED SECTIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1946 nnnn mu A INVENTOR. 1 4&0 may jmflygy July 6, 1948. A. KAUFMANN 2,444,511

' TRAVELING BAG COMPRISING HINGEDLY CONNECTED OPPOSED SECTIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Ju1 2, 1946 INVENTOR.

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Patented July 6, 19418 UNITE 1 TRAVELlING BAG COMPRISING HINGEDLY CONNECTED OPPOSED SECTIONS dry Kaufmann, South Orange, N. 3., assignor to K. Kaufmann & (30., Inc.,:N'eWa-rl N. 3;, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 2, 1946, Serial No. 681,017

(01. rec-s) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traveling bags; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of traveling bag of the general utility type which is of light weight and yet strong and durable, and to a novel method of producing the same.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of traveling bag of the center openin type, somewhat similar in form to the well-known Gladstone style of bag, but in the construction of which is incorporated novel means for shaping and reenforcing the bag body sections, the use of which means eliminates ne cessity for employment of heavy metallic frame structure, in consequence of which the completed bag is of light weight and yet strong and durable; said body sections being equipped with slide fastener means for releasably securing the same in closed condition.

The invention has for another object to provide a novel method of forming the bag body to provide the sides and bottom portions thereof in one piece and with attached end and top portions joined thereto by external marginal beaded joints, including, in connection with said end and top portions, lining members which are arranged to form longitudinally extending pockets into which reenf orcing and shape retaining members may-be inserted, the latter being also adapted to brace the aforesaid beaded joints so as to holdthe same in external angularly proj ecting relation to said end and top portions substantially in the planes of the side and bottom portions.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the traveling bag according to this invention, the same being shown in closed, condition; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same in closed condition;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ba in open condition; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View, taken on line 5- in Fig. 1, but drawn on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary crosssectional View, taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 3, and also drawn on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the bag body in an initial stage of construction thereof, and showing the method of applying thereto the reenforcing and shape retaining members in connection with end and top portions of the bag body sections.

Fig. '7 is a face View of a main reenforcing and shape retaining member adapted to be assembled with end and top portions of a bag body section; and Fig. Sis a face view of an auxiliary reenforcing memberfor application solely'to an end portion ofa bagbody'section.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the novel traveling bag according to this invention comprises a sheet of flexible material, such as natural or' artificial leather; textile or other fabric or the like, which is of suitable dimensions and of suitableperipheral shape, and which is adaptedtoform; in one piece, the side portions It and bottom portions of the bag body sections. The interior face of said side and bottom forming sheet is faced with a coextensive lining '52, which is also made of suitable sheet material; such e. g. as a textile fabric. Said lining 1.2 is cemented tothe side and bottom forming sheet so as to be unitary therewith.

Secured to-the'inner face of the lined sideand bottom forming sheet, to extend across its medial portion between lateral margins: thereof, is a rigid back-bone member l3, the'respective ends of which terminateshort' ofsaid lateral margins, so as to'leave unobstructed spaces is (seeFig. 6) between said ends and lateral margins. Said back-cone member 13 may be made of any suitable rigid' material, but is preferably made of wood so ast'obe'ofrelatively light Weight. Also cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the inner face of the lined side and" bottom forming sheet are bottom portion reenforcing or stiffening members l5, which are made of substantially rigid sheet material, such e. g. as Wood. Said bottom portion reenforcing and stiffening memhere it respectively lieparallel to but spaced from the sides of said back-bone member t3, whereby to form intermediate the former and the latter, by the intervening lined sheet material, flexible hinging portions to about'which the respective bag body sections may swing when opening and closing the bag.

Securedto the marginsof each side'portion I9 is a'U-chaped section which formsgin one piece, the top part. til-and end parts is of a bag body section. Each such top and end part forming section is made of flexible sheet material, preferably of the same kind as that of the side and bottom forming sheet material. coextensive with the interior side or face of each top "and end part forming section is a pocket forming member H3; which is maderof textile fabric, preferably of the same kind as that from which the lining is is made, so as to harmonize therewith. One longitudinal edge portion 29 of said pocket forming member [9 is coincident with the outer longitudinal edge portion 2! of said top and end par-t forming section, and is turned therewith to overlie marginal edge portions. 22 of the adjacent side portion HI, being enclosed therewith in a binding member 23, and the whole secured by stitching 24, thus forming an external beaded or welt joint extending in the plane of said side portion H). In this way one side of the pocket forming member is anchored to the outer margin of the top and end part forming section. The other longitudinal edge portion 25 of said pocket forming member I9 is inturned beneath the inner longitudinal marginal portion 4a of said top and end part forming section, and secured thereto by stitching 26, thus anchoring the other side of the pocket forming member.

As associated with the top and end parts I'l-IB, said pocket forming members l9 provide an endwise open, longitudinally extending pocket 21 coextensive with the width and length of said top and end parts ll-l8. A novel form and arrangement of means is provided for holding the top and end parts I'I-l8 of each bag body section in extended, shaped and stiffened or reenforced condition. A preferred form of means for this purpose comprises a stifiening and reenforcing gusset member 28, which is made of a tough and rigid material which is capable, however, of being bent into the required U-shape corresponding to the conformation of said top and end parts l'l-l8. A material such as vulcanized paper or fiber board provides a satisfactory gusset material. Said gusset member 28 terminates at its respective ends in tongues 29 of reduced width (see Fig. '7). A gusset member 28 is inserted into an open end of each pocket 21 and pushed endwise therethrough until fully entered therein so as to extend from end to end of the top and end parts ll-lB of each bag body section (see Fig. 6). Auxiliary reenforcing members 30 (see Fig. 8) are also provided of width corresponding to the width of the respective end parts [8, and of a length adapted to be substantially coextensive with the length of the straight portions of said end parts l8, when the bag body sections of which they form a part are completed. These auxiliary reenforcing members 30 are likewise pushed endwise through the end portions of the pockets 21, until disposed in desired position side by side with contiguous portions of the inserted gusset members 28.

Each top and end part forming section and its associated pocket forming member is provided at its ends with free terminal portions 3i, i. e. portions unattached to the edges of the side and bottom forming sheet, the purpose of which will be subsequently explained.

Preferably each bottom portion reenforcing or stiffening member [5 is provided with a covering 32 having inner marginal portions 33 secured to the underside of the member I5, so as to be cemented with the latter to a lined bottom portion H of the bag body structure, thus anchorin one side of said covering 32 in place. Said covering is also made of textile fabric, preferably of the same kind as that from which the lining l2 and pocket forming members H) are formed, so as to harmonize therewith.

Before the coverings 32 are finally secured in place, the bag section bottom portions I l are swung about the flexible hinging portions l5 and relative to an intermediate back-bone section 34, of which said back-bone member 83 forms a part, to extend perpendicular to the ba section side portions [0, whereupon said free terminal portions 3| of the top and end parts |l'-i8, together with the terminal tongues 28 of the gusset members 28 enclosed therein, are inturned, superposed upon and cemented or otherwise firmly secured to the adjacent end portions of the reenforcing or stiffening members I5 of the bottom portions H in the plane thereof, thus amxing the inner ends of the bag section end portions I8 in place, and thereby effecting completion of formation of the respective bag body sections. After this is done, the coverings 32 are laid over and secured to such assemblies, and the outer marginal portions 35 of said coverings 32 are thereupon extended to and lapped over and upon the back-bone member [3 in suitably secured relation thereto.

The widths of the main body portions of the gusset members 28 are so proportioned relative to the widths of the pockets 2'! in which they are contained as to be slightly in excess of the latter, whereby when said gusset members 28 are in place their outer edges will be strongly thrust in abutment against the marginal parts of the bag section side portions I0 adjacently beneath the beaded or welt joints provided between the latter and the top and end parts I'|l8 of said bag sections. The effect of this is to so brace said beaded or welt joints as to cause the same to be constantly urged to and maintained in upstanding, externally proiected position substantially in the plane of said bag section side portions Ill and right angular to the planes of said top and end parts ||i8 of said bag sections.

Secured to the inner margins of the top and end parts 17-48 of the respective bag sections are the cooperative components of slide fastener means 36, by which the bag sections, when swung together in meeting bag closing condition, may

be releasably secured in such condition. The terminals of said slide fastener means are entered in the unobstructed spaces [4 provided beyond the respective ends of the back-bone member l3 at the ends of the back-bone section 34.

While slide-fastener means has been shown and above described as a preferred means for releasably securing the bag sections in closed condition, it will be obvious that, in the broader aspects of this invention, any other suitable form of fastening means may be optionally employed.

The back-bone section 34 is reenforced by means of a metallic keeper and reenforcing strip 31 which is disposed to overlie the interior top thereof, and which is secured to the back-bone section by rivets 33 engaged through the backbone structure, or by other suitable fastening means. Said keeper and reenforcing strip 37 also serves to bind down the outer marginal portions 35 of said coverings 32 of the reenforcing and stiffening members 15 of the bag section bottom portions 1 I.

If desired, the bag body interior may be provided with a releasable partition member 39 adapted to extend between the interiors of the bag body sections. Ihe base 40 of said partition member 39 is engaged and secured beneath the keeper and reenforcing strip 31', whereby to hin edly anchor said partition member to the backbone section 34. Suitable means is provided for releasably fastening the free end of the partition member in closed relation to the interior of one of the bag body sections. Illustratively, such fastening means may comprise manipulatable latching posts M which are suitably anchored to the inner side of the top part I! of the latter bag body section. Said latching posts 4| are adapted to be releasably engaged by marginal grommets 4-2 with which the free end of the partition member is provided (see Figs. 3 and 4) 5 suitably mounted and secured to the top parts I! of the respective bag body sections, thus completing the bag structure.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A traveling bag the body of which is formed by opposed sections adapted to be closed together in meeting relation, a single sheet of pliable material divided medially by a rigid back-bone section to provide oppositely extending parts respectively including side and bottom portions of the respective body sections, a continuous top and end forming member of pliable material for each body section, said top and end forming members being respectively joined to the peripheries of the respective body section side portions to extend perpendicular thereto, said top and end forming members having facing means aflixed by their longitudinal margins to the margins of said members, whereby to provide longitudinal pockets coextensive with the inner sides of said members, substantially rigid gusset means contained in and coextensive with said pockets, whereby to reenforce, shape and support said top and end forming members in extended condition, means to stiffen and reenforce said bottom portions, said bottom portions of the respective body sections being respectively hingedly related .to said backbone section by intermediate freely flexible parts of said pliable sheet material from which said side and bottom portions are formed, said bottom portions being disposed perpendicular to the side portions, said top and end forming members having free terminal portions intumed, superimposed upon and secured to said stiffened and reenforced bottom portions, and means to releasably secure the body sections thus formed in closed together meeting relation.

2. A travelin bag the body of which is formed by opposed sections adapted to be closed .together in meeting relation, 3. single sheet of pliable material divided medially by a rigid back-bone section to provide oppositely extending parts respectively including side and bottom portions of the respective body sections, a continuous .top and end forming member of pliable material for each body section, said top and end forming members being respectively joined to the peripheries of the respective body section side portions to extend perpendicular thereto, said top and end forming members having facing means aflixed by their longitudinal margins .to the margins of said members, whereby to provide longitudinal pockets coextensive with the inner sides of said members, substantially rigid gusset means contained in and coextensive with said pockets, whereby to reenforce, shape and support said top and end forming members in extended condition, means to stifien and reenforce said bottom portions, said bottom portions of the respective body sections being respectively hingedly related to said backbone section by intermediate freely flexible parts of said pliable sheet material from which said side and bottom portions are formed, said bottom portions being disposed perpendicular to the side portions, said top and end forming members having free terminal portions inturned, superimposed upon and secured to said stiffened and reenforced bottom portions, and means to releasably secure the body sections thus formed in closed together meeting relation, said latter means comprising a slide fastener structure, the cooperative component parts of which are secured 6 to the free edge portions of the respective top and end forming members of said body sections.

3. A traveling bag the body of which is formed by opposed sections adapted to close together in meeting relation, a single sheet of pliable material divided medially by a rigid back-bone section to provide oppositely extending parts respectively including side and bottom portions of the respective body sections, a continuous top and end forming member of pliable material for each body section disposed perpendicular to the side portions of the latter, facing portions coextensive with the interior sides of said top and end forming members, contiguous longitudinal edges of said members and their facing portions being stitched and bound respectively to the peripheral edges of the respective body section side portions so as to form exteriorly projecting beaded joint elements in the planes of said body section side portions, opposite contiguous longitudinal edges of said members and their facing portions being stitched together, whereby said facing portions form with said members, longitudinal pockets coextensive with the latter, substantlally rigid gusset members engaged within and coextensive with said pockets, whereby to reenforce, shape and support said top and end forming members in extended condition, edges of said gusset members being adapted to thrustingly abut margins of said body section side portions, whereby to brace and urge said beaded joint elements to upstanding condition in the plane of said side portions, means to stifien and reenforce said bottom portions, said bottom portions of the respective body sections being respectively hingedly related to said back-bone section by intermediate freely flexible parts of said pliable sheet material from which said side and bottom portions are formed, said bottom portions being disposed perpendicular to the side portions, said top and end forming members having free terminal portions intumed, superimposed upon and secured to said stiffened and reenforced bottom portions, and means to releasably secure the body sections thus formed in closed together meeting relation.

4. A traveling bag as defined by claim 3 wherein the means to releasably secure the body sections in closed together meeting relation comprises a slide fastener structure, the cooperative component parts of which are secured to the free edge portions of the respective top and end forming members of said body sections.

ARY KAUFMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,676,229 Grossman et a1 July 3, 1928 2,244,091 Wein June 3, 1941 2,272,716 Lowe Feb. 10, 1942 2,346,563 Doppelt Apr. 11, 1944 2,420,150 Riess May 6, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 117,830 Australia Sept. 17, 1943 397,567 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1933 

